Of the 135 police officers who died in the line of duty nationwide last year, 64 of them were shot and killed. Of those, 21 were ambushed — the highest number in twenty years, according to data compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Those numbers are evidence enough for the bill’s sponsor to take action.

“The passage of stiffer penalties will not single-handedly protect all of our emergency service workers but we must make it clear that targeted offenses against our Community Heroes will not be taken lightly,” said Sen. Fred Akshar. “We will not be silent while you are selfless.”

The bill, entitled the Community Heroes Protection Act, classifies certain crimes against police, correctional officers, wildlife enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other law enforcement and first responders as hate crimes.

The offenses are hate crimes only if they’re intentionally carried out against first responders because of their career. “This law will see to it that such an offender receives a punishment that fits this heinous crime,” said Sen. Martin Golden, a former New York City police officer.

Earlier this year, a bill was filed in Ohio that would make killing first responders a death penalty eligible crime. It was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 10.